Montana boaters will need to have two new decals on their motorboats, sailboats or personal watercraft before launching this year.  

The new decals, free of charge, are required for Montana to comply with a federal statute that requires periodic vessel registration. Montana’s permanent water vessel registration law that went into effect in 2003 did not comply with federal guidelines that limit the length of registration to three years.

Without the decals, Montana would not be able to continue to receive federal dollars used for boat enforcement and safety education.   Boaters who travel out of Montana without the new decal may also be in violation of another state’s registration laws.

Boaters can pick up the two free validation decals when they get the permanent registration decal at their county treasurer’s office. For those who have already permanently registered their boats, the decals are available at the Fish, Wildlife & Parks office in Missoula and other FWP regional and area offices around the state.   To complete the paperwork with FWP, boat owners will need their permanent registration receipt issued by the County Treasurer.  

Boaters may also apply for their decal through the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov or request their decals by mail.   To request by mail, owners must mail a copy of their permanent registration receipt with title number and boat hull’s identification number to the FWP Missoula office, 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula, MT 59804. Validation decals ordered through the mail or website will be delivered to boat owners by mail.



The new 2005 law requires Montana owners of motorboats, sailboats longer than 12 feet or personal watercraft to display a permanent registration decal along with the two new, free validation decals on their watercraft.   The new decals will expire every three years.

"Boaters need to have all three decals properly displayed on their boats before putting them in the water this year," said Ron Jendro, Fish, Wildlife & Parks state boating law administrator.

For more information on the new decals, visit the FWP web site or contact the FWP Missoula office at (406) 542-5500.

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